Sick of Pregnancy myths!!!

I was just browsing thru and I find it amazing how many of us still believe these old wives tales that are out there! I found this list and some of them made me laugh so I thought I would share. Any ones hear that you have heard and thought were actually true? Or maybe some that are not listed that you have heard and are funny?

Myth #1: Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.False. In fact using cocoa butter makes women’s skin more sensitive, and some women have allergic reactions to it. Dr. Park treated one woman who came in with bright pink circles on her breasts. She couldn’t figure out why, until the patient copped to using cocoa butter to try to keep her breasts perky.

Myth #2: You can’t fly during your first or last trimester. Nope. False again. You can fly whenever you want. Some airlines won’t let you on the plane in your last trimester, but that has more to do with fears that you’ll go into labor and force the plane to land or spoil the upholstery.

Myth #3: You can’t pet your cat during pregnancy.False. However, you shouldn’t change your cat’s litter box during pregnancy because of the risk of toxoplasmosis from the dookies. And also, because, dammit, you’re growing a human being, and do you have to everything?

Myth #4: You shouldn’t eat smoked salmon while pregnant.False. Salmon is good for mothers-to-be; it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA, which studies show have a variety of benefits for pregnant women and their fetuses, and salmon is a fresh water fish, so the likelihood of mercury poisoning is low.

Myth #5: You can’t eat sushi.False. Sushi is permissible except for mackerel, shark, tilefish and swordfish. And don’t eat too much tuna — no more than 12. oz (about two maki, or rolls) per week.

Myths #9, 10 and 11: You shouldn’t have sex/lift your hands over your head/touch your toes while pregnant:All false (and a little bit weird), unless you have a specific medical condition and your doctor warns you against it.

Myth #12: You shouldn’t take hot baths while pregnant.True, actually. You should avoid saunas, Jacuzzis or anything that raises your body temperature over 102 degrees.

Myth #13: You shouldn’t drink coffee while pregnant.False. Don’t go nuts, but a cup a day won’t hurt junior.

Myth #14: You should abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.True, with a question mark. The American College of Obstetricians, along with all other American health authorities, advise women to stay on the wagon, but at least one big British study recently suggested that two drinks a week during pregnancy might not do harm.

Myth #15: Pregnant women should sleep on their left side.False. That’s going to be hard on the old left hip. Just get whatever sleep you can. The mommy docs also say the myth about expectant moms avoiding back-sleeping is rubbish.

Myth #16: The baby’s position in the womb can tell you its sex.False. Also, the line on the skin stretching below the navel is no clue to whether your baby’s a boy or girl. You just can’t tell from outside the womb. On the upside, if you do try, you’ve got a 50% shot of getting it right.

Myth #17: Walking makes labor go faster.False. It might make you feel better but there’s no activity that’s going to bring on labor, sorry. (Dr. Bohn has treated women who swear by a certain restaurant’s salad in Los Angeles. Also false, as is the old cod liver-oil myth.)

Myth #18: Pregnant women should eat for two. Nu-unh. False. Carrying a baby actually only requires 300 extra calories a day. So technically you should be eating for about one and a fifth. If you do eat for two, you’ll end up with a bigger baby, which reminds the mommy docs of another fable…

Myth #19: A bigger baby is a better baby.False. The average baby weighs about 7.5 lbs. Babies that are much bigger than that are more likely to suffer from diabetes and obesity in later life.

Myth #20: Drinking dark beer helps the milk come in. Nope. False. It might help the mother relax, though, which does help with milk letdown (but it has nothing to do with the barley in the beer). Also, a beer is great for Mom’s mental well-being.

And, finally, going outside when you’re pregnant during an eclipse will not give your baby a cleft palate. But you probably already knew that.

I was just browsing thru and I find it amazing how many of us still believe these old wives tales that are out there! I found this list and some of them made me laugh so I thought I would share. Any ones hear that you have heard and thought were actually true? Or maybe some that are not listed that you have heard and are funny?

Myth #1: Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.False. In fact using cocoa butter makes women’s skin more sensitive, and some women have allergic reactions to it. Dr. Park treated one woman who came in with bright pink circles on her breasts. She couldn’t figure out why, until the patient copped to using cocoa butter to try to keep her breasts perky.

Myth #2: You can’t fly during your first or last trimester. Nope. False again. You can fly whenever you want. Some airlines won’t let you on the plane in your last trimester, but that has more to do with fears that you’ll go into labor and force the plane to land or spoil the upholstery.

Myth #3: You can’t pet your cat during pregnancy.False. However, you shouldn’t change your cat’s litter box during pregnancy because of the risk of toxoplasmosis from the dookies. And also, because, dammit, you’re growing a human being, and do you have to everything?

Myth #4: You shouldn’t eat smoked salmon while pregnant.False. Salmon is good for mothers-to-be; it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA, which studies show have a variety of benefits for pregnant women and their fetuses, and salmon is a fresh water fish, so the likelihood of mercury poisoning is low.

Myth #5: You can’t eat sushi.False. Sushi is permissible except for mackerel, shark, tilefish and swordfish. And don’t eat too much tuna — no more than 12. oz (about two maki, or rolls) per week.

Myths #9, 10 and 11: You shouldn’t have sex/lift your hands over your head/touch your toes while pregnant:All false (and a little bit weird), unless you have a specific medical condition and your doctor warns you against it.

Myth #12: You shouldn’t take hot baths while pregnant.True, actually. You should avoid saunas, Jacuzzis or anything that raises your body temperature over 102 degrees.

Myth #13: You shouldn’t drink coffee while pregnant.False. Don’t go nuts, but a cup a day won’t hurt junior.

Myth #14: You should abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.True, with a question mark. The American College of Obstetricians, along with all other American health authorities, advise women to stay on the wagon, but at least one big British study recently suggested that two drinks a week during pregnancy might not do harm.

Myth #15: Pregnant women should sleep on their left side.False. That’s going to be hard on the old left hip. Just get whatever sleep you can. The mommy docs also say the myth about expectant moms avoiding back-sleeping is rubbish.

Myth #16: The baby’s position in the womb can tell you its sex.False. Also, the line on the skin stretching below the navel is no clue to whether your baby’s a boy or girl. You just can’t tell from outside the womb. On the upside, if you do try, you’ve got a 50% shot of getting it right.

Myth #17: Walking makes labor go faster.False. It might make you feel better but there’s no activity that’s going to bring on labor, sorry. (Dr. Bohn has treated women who swear by a certain restaurant’s salad in Los Angeles. Also false, as is the old cod liver-oil myth.)

Myth #18: Pregnant women should eat for two. Nu-unh. False. Carrying a baby actually only requires 300 extra calories a day. So technically you should be eating for about one and a fifth. If you do eat for two, you’ll end up with a bigger baby, which reminds the mommy docs of another fable…

Myth #19: A bigger baby is a better baby.False. The average baby weighs about 7.5 lbs. Babies that are much bigger than that are more likely to suffer from diabetes and obesity in later life.

Myth #20: Drinking dark beer helps the milk come in. Nope. False. It might help the mother relax, though, which does help with milk letdown (but it has nothing to do with the barley in the beer). Also, a beer is great for Mom’s mental well-being.

And, finally, going outside when you’re pregnant during an eclipse will not give your baby a cleft palate. But you probably already knew that.

Ooooh I knew 99% of these!! I feel smart. LOL I actually asked the doctor about sleeping positions and she said that it is rubbish, but that at one point I probably won't want to sleep on my tummy because it will be uncomfortable, however if I did the baby would be fine. Also told me the same about flying.

Ooooh I knew 99% of these!! I feel smart. LOL I actually asked the doctor about sleeping positions and she said that it is rubbish, but that at one point I probably won't want to sleep on my tummy because it will be uncomfortable, however if I did the baby would be fine. Also told me the same about flying.

Haha! Old wives tales make me twitch, they drive me absolutely batty! In this day and age, it just absolutely shocks me what some people will believe (though I've got to admit, at the end of my last pregnancy, I was trying to get my hands on everything spicy that I could find in hopes it would induce labor...all it did was give me fire poop).

Haha! Old wives tales make me twitch, they drive me absolutely batty! In this day and age, it just absolutely shocks me what some people will believe (though I've got to admit, at the end of my last pregnancy, I was trying to get my hands on everything spicy that I could find in hopes it would induce labor...all it did was give me fire poop).

Wow thanks! So relieved abt the sushi I crave it like crazy! Also I used to be a huge wine drinker nothing crazy but I really enjoy a nice glass of red and I miss it like crazy. Dw not gonna down a whole bottle but a few sips once in a while seems reasonable and now I dont feel so bad-great list :)

Wow thanks! So relieved abt the sushi I crave it like crazy! Also I used to be a huge wine drinker nothing crazy but I really enjoy a nice glass of red and I miss it like crazy. Dw not gonna down a whole bottle but a few sips once in a while seems reasonable and now I dont feel so bad-great list :)

Love this! Also, thank you. So glad some of these are on here. The arms over head one makes me insane. Your placenta is attached to your uterine wall, not your arms. :-) I can't wait until the smell if fish stops making me vomit, my doc Okayed smoked salmon and some sushi last time, too. Now I just have to wait.

Love this! Also, thank you. So glad some of these are on here. The arms over head one makes me insane. Your placenta is attached to your uterine wall, not your arms. :-) I can't wait until the smell if fish stops making me vomit, my doc Okayed smoked salmon and some sushi last time, too. Now I just have to wait.

Lol! Glad you all like this. It makes me chuckle when all these myths are told. I'm just tired of hearing them! I agree on the whole walking thing. I think it is suggested while in labor for more of stress relief and relaxation method. Take your mind if of it, you know, thinking more about if your gown is open and everyone can see your tush! Tee hee! Just kidding! Passes the time too.

Lol! Glad you all like this. It makes me chuckle when all these myths are told. I'm just tired of hearing them! I agree on the whole walking thing. I think it is suggested while in labor for more of stress relief and relaxation method. Take your mind if of it, you know, thinking more about if your gown is open and everyone can see your tush! Tee hee! Just kidding! Passes the time too.

Ha. I didn't actually even notice that they said Salmon was a fresh water fish. But I don't like salmon. How ever Salmon can be either depending on the type, some are land locked. And of course there is the debate over wild and farmed. What should have been said is that Salmon has an extremely low mercury level. Oh and not sure who it was that they were sad about Tuna. It said that 1 to 2 maki rolls in a week is ok just to not go overboard. All in all if there is something you don't feel comfortable eating or doing then don't or ask your Dr. I posted this more for fun because there are some myths out there that are just downright funny. We are pregnant that dosent mean we need to live in a bubble for 9 months ;)

Ha. I didn't actually even notice that they said Salmon was a fresh water fish. But I don't like salmon. How ever Salmon can be either depending on the type, some are land locked. And of course there is the debate over wild and farmed. What should have been said is that Salmon has an extremely low mercury level. Oh and not sure who it was that they were sad about Tuna. It said that 1 to 2 maki rolls in a week is ok just to not go overboard. All in all if there is something you don't feel comfortable eating or doing then don't or ask your Dr. I posted this more for fun because there are some myths out there that are just downright funny. We are pregnant that dosent mean we need to live in a bubble for 9 months ;)

Wait, I'm confused - the list says it's okay to eat sushi, but links to an article that recommends NOT eating sushi during pregnancy. Darn, because I was hoping for some good news - I love sushi! I've been eating cooked sushi (baked rolls, California rolls, unagi, shrimp, etc.) but miss the raw tuna and salmon so much!

Wait, I'm confused - the list says it's okay to eat sushi, but links to an article that recommends NOT eating sushi during pregnancy. Darn, because I was hoping for some good news - I love sushi! I've been eating cooked sushi (baked rolls, California rolls, unagi, shrimp, etc.) but miss the raw tuna and salmon so much!

I agree with most of the myths except one of them. The about sleeping positions. Once your belly gets really big it's dangerous to sleep on your back. Your big belly puts a lot of pressure on your abdominal aorta causing decreased blood flow/ oxygen to your brain and your baby. Anyways it's really hard to breath from the pressure of the belly pushing up on your lungs that way.

I agree with most of the myths except one of them. The about sleeping positions. Once your belly gets really big it's dangerous to sleep on your back. Your big belly puts a lot of pressure on your abdominal aorta causing decreased blood flow/ oxygen to your brain and your baby. Anyways it's really hard to breath from the pressure of the belly pushing up on your lungs that way.

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